Plug connector having protection against steam jets

Abstract

Proposed is a plug connector, comprising a housing (1) having contact chambers (9) for receiving contact partners, wherein: around all of the contact chambers (9), a seal (2) is arranged on or in an all-around flange (3) of the housing (1); the seal (2) seals off the housing (1) of the plug connector with respect to a housing of a mating plug connector or with respect to a housing of an appliance; at least one recess (4) is provided in the flange (3) adjacent to the seal (2) on the side of said seal which is situated opposite the contact chambers (9), and the at least one recess (4) in the flange (3) has at least one opening (5) to the outside; and a portion (6) is set back from the opening (5).

Description

[0001] Connector with steam jet protection

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a connector comprising a housing with contact chambers for accommodating contact partners, wherein a seal is arranged around all contact chambers on or in a circumferential flange of the housing, wherein the seal seals the housing of the connector against a housing of a mating connector or against a housing of a device, according to the features of the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0004] The automotive industry is massively increasing sustainability and increasingly using materials from recycled processes. This leads to an increased susceptibility to corrosion. Crevice corrosion is particularly prevalent in connectors with seals. Furthermore, the demands for steam jet robustness on connectors are not being reduced. Experience shows that if the jet is applied directly to the seal, it cannot withstand the jet and, in particular, is lifted off.

[0005] Figure 1 shows the initial situation in which a connector can be exposed to a water jet, in particular a steam jet, from various directions. Figure 1 shows four steam jet generators acting on the schematically depicted connector from various directions. The various directions and the number of steam jet generators are only examples. In practice, when cleaning a vehicle, for example, the engine compartment, the connector will be exposed to the single steam jet from any chosen direction.

[0006] Currently, no connectors with sealed housings are known that provide corrosion resistance using lower-cost and recycled materials and / or steam jet tightness.

[0007] The problem is particularly the nozzle of the steam jet generator at 0° according to Figure 1 , since it is aimed directly at the seal and its water jet or steam jet can penetrate into the gap between the seal / housing and / or the seal / housing wall.

[0008] An increased proportion of recycled materials, especially copper and plastics, reduces the resistance of the connector housing material to corrosion.

[0009] Another very critical issue is design-related gaps and screw holes, which must be sealed if possible. Gaps of at least 0.5 mm are particularly disadvantageous because they draw in aqueous media due to capillary action, causing crevice corrosion and the formation of vents. Crevice corrosion occurs both between metal-to-metal and between metal-to-plastic and their surfaces. Crevice corrosion can also lead to the undermining of seals. Gaps that could give rise to crevice corrosion must be avoided through proper processing.

[0010] High-quality and corrosion-resistant base materials are not sustainable and cause high costs that should be avoided.

[0011] If a water jet hits the seal directly and unhindered (nozzle 0°), the water jet will infiltrate it. The gap required to prevent crevice corrosion exacerbates this effect. Currently known remedies – state of the art – are shown in Figures 2 and 3. The plug (connector) is recessed into the housing of a device (Figure 2). However, this results in cost-intensive machining and the risk of standing water. A web remains on the housing of the device (Figure 3). This also results in cost-intensive machining and the risk of standing water. The housing is specially coated, and the plug housing is 100% tight, which remains even after storage. All of these solutions require additional machining, coating, and material costs. They are not sustainable.

[0012] Up to this point and in the following, the terms "water jet" and "steam jet" are used synonymously. Generally, this refers to jets of liquid that are emitted at high pressure to clean parts. This does not refer to jets that, when combined with a hard material (such as sand or similar granular material), have an abrasive effect on the part they hit.

[0013] The invention is based on the object of avoiding the disadvantages described at the beginning.

[0014] This problem is solved by the features of patent claim 1.

[0015] According to the invention, at least one recess is provided in the flange next to the seal on the side opposite the contact chambers, and the at least one recess in the flange has at least one opening facing outward, with a web arranged recessed behind the opening. The volume of the water jet impinging on the connector housing from the outside can be collected in the recess via the opening in the flange and directed away. This prevents adverse capillary effects, and infiltration of the seal is prevented.The web set back behind the opening therefore advantageously ensures that a large part of the volume of the water jet striking the housing from the outside is refracted (deflected and cannot penetrate the housing) and only a small part of the volume of the water jet is specifically redirected into the recess and absorbed there. The connector according to the invention therefore has the advantage that the water jet is refracted or largely deflected (if it strikes the side surface of the flange) by the web set back behind the opening and also by the surface of the flange onto which it strikes. The part of the water jet that can penetrate the housing via the opening is further specifically deflected by the web set back behind the opening and collected in the at least one recess, from which it can be specifically discharged.

[0016] The advantages listed above are primarily supported by the fact that the housing of the connector is made of recycled plastic. This material is cost-effective and sustainable. At the same time, because the durability of the material is slightly reduced due to recycling, crevice corrosion, which would occur without the measures according to the invention, is avoided. A further development of the invention provides for several recesses distributed around the circumference of the seal. This has the advantage that the small volume of water jet that has penetrated the housing through just one single opening onto which the water jet has impacted (other openings onto which no water jet or only a smaller portion of it has impacted, may be present).

[0017] In a further development of the invention, all recesses in the flange have at least one opening facing outward. This has the advantage that if the volume of the penetrating water jet has been collected in several recesses, it can also be discharged from the connector housing via these multiple openings.

[0018] In a further development of the invention, a web is arranged behind the flange, which runs around the seal, with the free end area of ​​the web being lowered compared to the free end area of ​​the flange. The lowered web in front of the seal advantageously prevents the capillary effect. Thus, corrosion caused by crevice corrosion is not intensified, but rather reduced.

[0019] In a further development of the invention, the free end region of the web recessed behind the opening has the same height as the free end region of the flange. As a result, the recesses, which are preferably adjacent to one another and separated by the recessed web and the web, are filled with the penetrating volume of the water jet in approximately the same or identical manner, since the bottom of the opening is recessed relative to the free end of the flange and directs the penetrating volume into the two adjacent recesses.

[0020] In a further development of the invention, the bottom of at least one recess is located lower than the free end area of ​​the opening. This provides a sufficiently large volume behind the flange in the connector housing for the volume of the water jet still penetrating the housing.

[0021] Further advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

[0022] The invention is described and explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0023] Figure 1 shows the possible angles of impact of a water jet (WS) on a connector (SV). Four different directions (0°, 30°, 60°, and 90°) from which the water jet (WS) can impact the connector (SV) are shown as examples. In practice, typically only a single jet will impact the connector from an arbitrary, non-specifiable direction.

[0024] Figures 2 and 3 show disadvantageous embodiments of the connector according to the prior art, which have already been mentioned in the introduction to the description above.

[0025] Figure 4 shows a section of the connector according to the invention. This connector has a housing 1 with a seal 2. In its outward-facing region, the housing 1 has a circumferential flange 3. Behind the flange 3, at least one recess 4 is present. In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 4, several recesses 4 are provided distributed over the circumference of the flange 3. In the side wall of the housing 1, which forms the flange 3, at least one opening 5 is provided. Such an opening 5 can be arranged multiple times around the circumference of the flange 3. If a water jet strikes any point on the flange 3, a large part of its volume is deflected. However, the smallest part of its volume is specifically directed into the interior of the housing 1 of the connector. The opening 5 is located below the end region of the flange 3 that points upwards in the plug-in direction.Furthermore, there is at least one web 6 set back behind the opening 5. This web 6 can also be present multiple times, in particular corresponding to the number of openings 5. The circumferential web formed by the flange 3 is provided with the reference number 7. Viewed from the outside, behind the flange 3 there is a depressed circumferential web 8. In the embodiment according to Figure 4, the depressed web 8 runs approximately parallel to the seal 2, but can alternatively also take a different course than the course of the seal 2. For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that the contact area of ​​the plug connector is arranged within the seal 2. This contact area is formed by a contact carrier which, when viewed in Figure 4, lies within the seal 2 and which can be (or is) a component of the housing 1 and projects upwards from the flange 3.At least one contact chamber (in practice often several contact chambers) is arranged within this contact carrier, with an electrical contact partner located in each contact chamber. This electrical contact partner (or the several contact partners) is (are) contacted with its associated contact partner in a mating connector when the connector shown in detail in Figure 4 is plugged into its mating connector to form a plug-in connection. The free end region of the web 7 of the flange 3 preferably lies in a common plane with the free end region of the web 6 set back behind the opening 5. The bottom of the opening 5 is lowered relative to this plane. The same applies to the free end region of the lowered web 8. The bottom of the opening 5 and the free end region of the lowered web 8 can also lie in a common plane.However, their planes can just as easily diverge from each other. Furthermore, the bottom of the recess 4 advantageously lies in a plane that lies below the bottom of the opening 5. This consideration applies to the view of Figure 4.

[0026] Figure 5 shows that the recessed web 8 in front of the seal 2 prevents a capillary effect. Thus, corrosion caused by crevice corrosion is not intensified, but rather, it is advantageously at least reduced or completely prevented. Furthermore, it can be seen that an opening can also be arranged in the area of ​​a mounting opening (e.g., designed as a socket) in the connector housing.

[0027] Figure 6 shows that the outer web 7 breaks the water jet so that no direct impact on the seal 2 is possible and the seal 2 is therefore not penetrated.

[0028] Figure 7 shows that the water jet WS is "refracted" by the overlapping intermediate wall (web 6) of the recess and thus cannot hit the seal 2. If a small portion of the volume of the impinging water jet is directed toward the recess to the right and / or left of the web 6, it can be diverted back out of the connector housing via at least one additional opening located adjacent to the opening through which it entered. In this regard, reference is made to the following Figure 8, in which this diverted volume is depicted in the form of an arrow.

[0029] Finally, Figure 8 shows that the water can drain away, regardless of the connector's installation position at its installation location. This view also shows several contact chambers 9 of the connector, which are arranged within the circumferential seal 2 in a contact carrier of the connector. The contact partners in the contact chambers 9 are not shown.

[0030] List of reference symbols

[0031] 1. Housing

[0032] 2. Seal

[0033] 3. Flange

[0034] 4. Recess

[0035] 5. Opening

[0036] 6. Bridge

[0037] 7. Bridge

[0038] 8. lowered bridge

[0039] 9. Contact chamber

[0040] WS water jet

[0041] SV connectors

Claims

Patent claims 1. A plug connector comprising a housing (1) with contact chambers (9) for accommodating contact partners, wherein a seal (2) is arranged around all contact chambers (9) on or in a circumferential flange (3) of the housing (1), wherein the seal (2) seals the housing (1) of the plug connector against a housing of a mating connector or against a housing of a device, characterized in that in the flange (3) next to the seal (2) on the side thereof opposite the contact chambers (9) there is at least one recess (4) and the at least one recess (4) in the flange (3) has at least one opening (5) towards the outside, wherein a web (6) is arranged set back behind the opening (5).

2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that several recesses (4) distributed over the circumference of the seal (2), 3. Connector according to claim 2, characterized in that all recesses (4) in the flange (3) have at least one opening (5) to the outside.

4. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a web (8) is arranged behind the flange (3) which is arranged around the Seal (2) runs around, wherein the free end region of the web (8) is lowered relative to the free end region of the flange (3).

5. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free end region of the web (6) set back behind the opening (5) has the same height as the free end region of the flange (3).

6. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom of the at least one recess (4) is lower than the free end region of the opening (5).

7. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free end region of the web (7) of the flange (3) lies in a common plane with the free end region of the web (6) set back behind the opening (5), wherein the bottom of the opening (5) and / or the free end region of the lowered web (8) is lowered relative to this plane.

8. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom of the opening (5) and the free end region of the lowered web (8) lie in a common plane.

9. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom of the opening (5) and the free end region of the lowered web (8) lie in different planes.

10. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom of the recess (4) lies in a plane which lies below the bottom of the opening (5).

11. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (1) is formed from a recycled plastic material.

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